Located in a neglected Cincinnati neighborhood, the 60,000-sq.-ft. Findlay Community Center will serve as a beacon of light when it opens later this year. The $46 million project includes an 8,400-sq.-ft. early learning childcare center, a public outdoor space and a playground.
"The facility will provide a wide range of amenities designed to serve residents of all ages, including a fitness center, an indoor swimming pool, roller-skating rink, gymnasium, indoor running track, community rooms and outdoor recreation areas," Ismael Hassan, 3CDC senior development associate, told Construction Equipment Guide. "Programming will include fitness classes, youth activities, sports leagues, childcare services and other community-based programming that supports healthy lifestyles and youth development."
According to Hassan, Over-the-Rhine (OTR) is one of the most intact historic urban districts in the United States, known for its Italianate architecture.
"In the mid-1800s, OTR became the center of Cincinnati's German-American life, filled with beer gardens, music halls, bakeries, churches and theatres. Landmarks from this era, like Findlay Market and Cincinnati Music Hall, remain anchors of the neighborhood today.
"Despite its rich history, OTR experienced significant decline in the 20th century, driven by industrial job loss, disinvestment and population migration to outlying neighborhoods. By the late 1900s and early 2000s, the area faced deep socioeconomic challenges. The neighborhood had largely fallen into disrepair."
The southern portion of OTR is recognized for its growing small businesses, strong arts and cultural footprint and ongoing efforts to maintain equity and diversity. Now, the non-profit 3CDC is focused on the northern portion of OTR, where the Findlay Community Center is under construction.
"North OTR has been identified as an area with incidents tied to chronic vacancy, open-air drug activity and blight," said Hassan. "As a result, it's faced issues with public safety and sanitation in recent years. Despite these challenges, North OTR is entering a historic redevelopment phase, with several large projects planned and underway that are intended to catalyze neighborhood-wide change."
Prior to redevelopment, the site was home to the former Findlay Playground, which had served the neighborhood for years, but had become increasingly underused and in need of reinvestment.
"Much of the existing infrastructure and play equipment was outdated, and the space lacked the programming, lighting and amenities needed to support consistent positive activity throughout the day."
Hassan underscored the importance of engaging underprivileged youth in positive programming, calling it essential for the long-term health and productivity of a community.
"These programs provide safe, reliable spaces where young people can spend their time, while building critical social and emotional skills, confidence, leadership, communication and problem-solving abilities. Such skills directly support academic success, future employability and personal resilience, especially for youth who may lack access to other enrichment opportunities."
Adults also will be able to use these spaces to stay active and engaged in the community, regardless of social or financial status. Memberships will be offered on a sliding scale based on income.
Work on the project began in May of 2025 and is expected to be completed this November. When asked by Construction Equipment Guide about the main concerns for crews on the job, Sam Fintel, Skanska USA Building project manager, said, "It's a tight job site, which creates logistical difficulties related to access, phasing, trade coordination and the installation of exterior details and finishes. It's also challenging dealing with auger cast piles across the entire building footprint, complicated by unknown subsurface obstructions such as remnants of an abandoned house and school foundations, cisterns, boulders and brick debris."
In addition, pool construction requires excavation and installation through the city's Goose Alley. Workers must tie-in to the existing building, while also working in close proximity to neighboring structures.
Site demolitions and building pad prep are complete, along with foundations, the underground storm detention system, load bearing masonry for the structure, interior masonry walls for the locker rooms and structural steel installation in the pool, gym, locker area, roller rink and part of the lobby. Other finished tasks include roof decking at the pool, gym, locker area and roller rink, installation of the TPO roofing membrane at the pool and underground utility work across the entire site.
Steel work in the lobby and childcare areas, including trusses and detailing, is ongoing, along with roof work for the gym, installation of hangers and supports for building systems in the pool, gym and track areas, MEP installation, ductwork, piping and conduit in the pool area.
With site work is complete, crews were working on construction of the Findlay retaining wall, playground preparation, utility tie-ins, site concrete, fencing, landscaping and installation of site furnishings.
Fintel explained pool excavation will be particularly complex because it must be completed through an opening on the west side of the building via Goose Alley.
"In addition, the project site housed several residential buildings and a school, resulting in unsuitable soils throughout the area. This created challenges during excavation, foundation work and underground utility installation. Fortunately, most of these unsuitable soils were identified in the project's geotechnical report and were accounted for in both the structural design and the construction plan."
Roughly 6,250 cu. yds. of dirt will be moved during construction. Heavy machinery on the job includes excavators, backhoe loaders, dump trucks, bulldozers, compactors, skid steers, auger drill rig/crane, pile driver rig/crane, telebelt conveyor trucks, concrete truck mixers, concrete pump trucks, crawler cranes, aerial lifts, rough-terrain forklifts and rough-terrain scissor lifts.
Among the main materials needed are auger cast piles, concrete foundations, CMU load-bearing walls, structural steel, concrete slabs and composite roofs, concrete and stainless steel pool structure, cold-formed metal framing and sheathing, brick, metal panels, TPO roofing, storefront windows and glazing, athletic flooring, wood sports flooring, tile and paint.
Fintel said because of strong planning and close coordination with the on-site contractors, weather has not significantly affected project progress.
"Cold temperatures were managed with temporary heating to keep load-bearing CMU block installation on schedule through the winter. The late-January winter storm only halted work for one day, which was later made up. Rain in early March impacted several activities, such as roofing, but all critical path work remained on schedule."
Despite the unforgiving schedule, Fintel said it's extremely satisfying to be part of such a meaningful project.
"It's an honor to help deliver a hub for the Cincinnati community and the neighboring residents in OTR, supporting healthier lifestyles at the recreation center and providing children with a safe, comfortable and inspiring environment to learn and grow in the childcare and early learning center."
Said Hassan, "It's incredibly rewarding to see the Findlay Community Center project coming to life. This has been a vision shaped by years of hard work, collaboration and community input. Watching construction move forward is a powerful reminder of what's possible when we invest in our neighborhoods. It's more than a project — it's a symbol of opportunity, connection, and hope for everyone who calls this area home." CEG
